Punch-card time recording device

ABSTRACT

A punch-card time recording device comprises a housing having an opening for receiving an employee&#39;&#39;s time punch-card, a plurality of punches disposed within the housing controlled by a timing device for recording the time on the punch-card, and a stop within the housing determining the position of the punch-card with respect to the punches. The device further includes a first operating element actuated by the employee to record his &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;in&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; time and controlling the stop to position a first field of the punch-card with respect to said punches, and a second operating element actuated by the employee to record his &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;out&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; time and controlling the stop to position a second field of the punch-card with respect to the punches.

United States Patent [191 Brener 3,827,058 [451 July 30, 1974 PUNCH-CARD TIME RECORDING DEVICE [22] Filed: July 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,249

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3.555.247 l/l97l Gruczelak 235/6l.1 E

Primary Examiner-Thomas J. Sloyan [57] ABSTRACT A punch-card time recording device comprises a housing having an opening for receiving an employees time punch-card, a plurality of punches disposed July 9, l97l lsrael 37278 within the housing controlled y a timing device for recording the time on the punch-card, and a stop g gbfi di within the housing determining the position of the [58] Fieid 1 1 61 8 punch-card with respect to the punches. The device 6 further includes a first operating element actuated by the employee to record his in time and controlling [561 22,2325528225122?331 ;128:5323:212i UNITED STATES PATENTS ment actuated by the employee to record his out 1,719,000 7/1929 Crook 346/83 time and controlling the stop to position a second field Long of the punch card respect to the punches 2,922,687 l/l960 Cooper ct al.. 346/82 X 3.405 67 10/1968 Stewart 346/86 x 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 14 lll e N :i

' w I I 'l. 1 H0 U 1' I O I f I 1| 1 I- I I l 4 e PATENTEB H 3.827. 058

saw a or 2 FIGS MMM'IHHWZ' W MINUTE HOUR DAY .TRANSLATlNE ZS DRUM DRUM DRUM .UNIT

sToP PUNCH PRINT. MECH MECH MECH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to punch-card timerecording devices, and particularly to such devices for automatically recording on the employees punch-card his in and out times such that the information can be automatically processed by data processing systems.

In many places, the employees in and out times are printed on the employees card as the employee clocks in and out of his place of employment. This data is then manually processed to determine the employees earnings, etc., or in some cases it is manually transferred to punch-cards for processing by data processing systems. A number of punch-card time-recording systems are known for recording this information directly on the employees cards for subsequent automatic processing, but the known systems are very complicated and costly and are therefore not widely available, particularly in the smaller offices. In addition, many of the known systems require a separate punch-card for each day.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a punch-card timerecording device of simple and inexpensive construction for recording the time directly on the employees punch-cards such that the cards may be used in automatic data processing systems for computing the employees earnings and the like. The system of the present invention also permits the information covering a number of days, 1 l in the described embodiment, to be recorded on a single punch-card.

According to the present invention, there is provided a punch-card time recording device, comprising, a housing having an opening for receiving an employees time punch-card, a plurality of punches disposed within the housing controlled by a timing device for recording the time on the punch-card, and a stop within the housing determining the position of the punch-card with respect to the punches. The device further includes a first operating element actuated by the employee to record his in time and controlling the stop to position a first field of the punchcard with respect to said punches, and a second operating element actuated by the employee to record his out time and controlling the stop to position a second field of the punch-card with respect to the punches.

According to another feature, the stop includes first and second surfaces engageable by the edge of the punch-card to position the first or second field of the punch-card with respect to the punches, and means controlled by the first and second operating elements for moving the stop to align its first or second surface with respect to the punch-card edge.

In the described embodiment, the stop includes a notched end defining the mentioned first and second surfaces.

Also in the described embodiment, there are a plurality of stops each selectively actuatable to engage the edge of the punch-card to selectively position same with respect to the punches according to the day of the month.

According to another feature of the described embodiment, there are also included printing elements for printing the in and out times on the punch-card.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, somewhat diagrammatically and by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a punch-card timerecording device constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the recording device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the punch-card for use with the time-recording device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view, partly in section, of the essential elements of the time-recording device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the punch and stop elements of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the time-recording device comprises an outer housing 2 having an opening 4 at its upper end for receiving an employees timepunch-card 6. The housing further includes an in button 8 and an out button 10 depressed by the employee when he arrives and leaves, respectively, the place of employment in order to record the in and out times on his punch-card 6. The device further includes a window 12 for displaying the day, and another window 14 for displaying the hour and minutes.

Any suitable timing mechanism may be used for determining the day, hour, and minutes, and also for displaying this information. FIG. 2 schematically shows the timing mechanism as including a drum 20 for displaying the month and day, a second drum 22 for displaying the hour, and a third drum 24 for displaying the minutes. The three drums may be driven by any timing device, for example a synchronous motor, (not shown). Each of the three drums, besides displaying their respective times within windows 12 and 14 of housing 2, also includes electrical connections 20, 22, 24, for transmitting their respective times, in the form of electrical signals, to a translating unit 26. The latter unit converts this information into electrical signals for controlling respectively, a stop mechanism 28, a punch mechanism 30, and a printing mechanism 32.

The timing devices 20, 22, 24, and the translating unit 26, are known per se and are therefore not described in detail herein. The present invention concerns primarily the stop mechanism 28, but also concerns the punch mechanism 30 and the printing mechanism 32. All these units are described more fully below with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Turning first to FIG. 3, however, there is shown the layout of the punch-card 6 adapted to be used with the time-recording device of the present invention. It will be seen that the punch-card is a standard -column card. The first 14 columns may be used for identifying the respective employee, which data may also be printed in space 39 at the top of these columns. This leaves 66 columns for recording the time information.

Each day is constituted of two fields. namely an in" and an out field. Three columns of the card are alloted to each field, and therefore each day includes six columns of the card. Thus, it will be seen that day 1 includes the six columns 15-20 divided in the in field of columns 15-17 and the out field of columns 18-20. Since there are 66 columns for the time information, the card would have a capacity for recording 11 time days. In practice, each card in the illustrated arrangement is used for 10 days of the month, there being three cards per month, and if the month includes 31 days, then the last six columns are used in the third card for that month.

It will be appreciated, however, that more or less data could be allotted to each card; for example, each card could receive the data of 15 or 16 days, in which case only two cards per month would be necessary.

In each field of three columns, in the card illustrated, the first column is used for designating the hour, and the remaining two columns are used for designatingthe minutes. Thus, in the card of FIG. 3, columns 15 and 18 are used for designating the in and out hours respectively, and columns 16-17 and 19-20 are used for designating the in and out minutes respectively.

The card includes the conventional 12 rows, namely rows -9 and the two special rows v and x. Rows x and v are used in designating the hour in the hour column (e.g. 15 or 18). Thus, to designate the hour (00-24), rows x and v are not punched in the hour column when designated the hours 00-09; the latter hour is designated by punching the appropriate row 0-9 in the hour (first) column of the respective field. To designate the hours -19, the x row is punched together with the appropriate one of rows 0-9, and to designate the hours 20-24, the v row is punched together with the appropriate one of rows 0-9.

It will be seen that the information recorded in column l5 of the card illustrated in FIG. 3 designates the hour 07 of the first lO-day period of the month, and the information recorded in column 18 designates the hour 16 of the same day.

The x" row in the 2 minutes columns (e.g. 16, 17

and 19, 20) is also used for designating the l0-day period of the month. Thus, when the x row in the first (tag. 16) column is punched, this designates the first lO-day period; when the x in the second (17) column is punched, this designates the second lO-day period; and when both are punched, this designates the third IO-day period.

' ln addition to punching the time data on the card, the latter is also printed along the upper edge of the card in a space 40 of the respective field.

As indicated earlier, the last two columns of each field are alloted to the minutes. Thus, as shown by the two fields of columns -17, and 18-20, the in time is 0724, and the out time is 1605.

The punch mechanism enclosed within housing 2 comprises a plurality of punch elements 50 at the upperv part of the housing, and a plurality of stop elements 52 below the punches. There are three columns of punch elements, one for each of the three columns in the field of the punch-card in which the time is recorded. There are 12 punch elements in each of the three columns, one for each of the 12 rows in the punch-card. Each punch element is actuated by a solenoid coil 54 which is in the punch mechanism box 30 controlled by the translating device 26 (FIG. 2) to record the hour and minutes in the appropriate three-column field of the punch card. Any suitable arrangement may be used for actuating the punches, the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4 showing the middle punch element being moved axially of its respective solenoid coil, whereas the punch elements on each side of the inner one are actuated through cams 55. A chute 56 is provided for re moving the punch-chad.

There are 11 stop elements 52, one for each day of the lO-day period covered by the card, the 11th stop element being provided for the 3 lst day of the month having 3] days.

Each stop 52 is controlled by a solenoid coil 60, all the coils being in the stop mechanism of block 28 PK]. 1) controlled by the translating unit 26. When a stop is actuated, by energization of its solenoid 60, the stop is moved (leftwardly in FIG. 4) to engage the lower edge of the card when the latter is inserted, and thereby to position the card with respect to punches 50 so that the time information is recorded in the day area of the respective stop.

Since each day area includes two fields, namely an in field and an out" field, each stop is provided with two surfaces for engagement with card to position it with respect to the appropriate field. Thus, it will be seen that the end of each stop 52 is notched to provide a high surface 62 and a lower 64. Normally when the solenoid 60 of the stop is energized, the stop 52 will move to its extreme leftward position, whereupon the high surface 62 will intercept the lower edge of the card. This will locate the card with its in time field in position to receive the punches when the latter are actuated. This is what occurs when the in button 8 is depressed by the employee. When the out button 10 is depressed, however, a solenoid 66 is actuated to move its armature 68 against a cam 70 carried by stop 52, to move the respective stop a small distance rightwardly so that its low surface 64 intercepts the lower edge of the card. This will cause the out time field of the card to be located in position to receive the punches 50.

All the stops 52 are arranged in a line below the punches. They are each of U-shape and include a pair of parallel spaced legs 52', 52" (FIG. 5) adapted to engage theend edges of the punch-card. The chute 56 for the punchcard is disposed between these legs.

The stops 52 includes means for detecting the edge of the card to make sure that the card is properly registered before the punches are actuated. For this purpose, legs 52' of the stops include three openings 70, 72, 74, arranged in a diagonal in each of the two halves of the notched end of the stop. In addition, a further opening 76 is formed at the lower end of each of the two halves of the stop through its leg 52". Openings 70, 72, detect the registration of the biassed edge 78 (FIG. 3) of the card, and opening 74, 76, detect the registration of the lower edge 79 of the card. A light source, schematically shown at 80, is provided at one side of the stops 52, and light detectors 82 are provided at the other side.

The stops 52 are supported on an anvil 84 which is lifted upwardly by means of a solenoid coil 86 until the top edge of the anvil engages a pair of fixed elements 88. When the stops are thus moved upwardly, the one that was actuated to engage the card will also move the card upwardly. Before the punches 50 are actuated,

light source and detectors 82 are utilized to make sure that the card is properly registered with respect to the edge of its respective stop; if the card is not properly registered, the punches are not actuated. If the card is properly registered, the punches 50 are actuated to record the time information in the appropriate field of the card, and then anvil 84 is lowered.

In addition to punching the time information in the respective field, this information is also printed on the card by printing elements schematically shown at 90. Each printing element is controlled by a solenoid 92, which is in the printing block 32 controlled by the translating unit 26 in the block diagram of FIG. 2. Printing elements 90 print the hour and minute in the space 40 at the top of the respective field of the card being recorded in by the punches.

The operation will be apparent from the above description. Every day a different stop element 52 is actuated by its respective solenoid 60, controlled by the timing device, whereby the stop is moved to its leftmost position with its high surface 62 in alignment to engage the lower edge of the card. The employee, when reporting for work, merely inserts his punch-card 6 into opening 4 of the device, and depresses the in button 8. The card drops to the upper surface 62 of the effective stop 52.

Depression of the in button 8 starts a cycle of operation during which anvil 84 rises and carries the card with it. When the anvil limits against fixed numbers 88,

an edge-registration examination is made by means of openings 70, 72, 74, 76, light source 80 and light detectors 82, to assure that the card is perfectly registered. If not, the punches are not actuated; and if so, the appropriate punches 52, as controlled by the hour and minutes timing device, are actuated to record the time in the in field of the respective day. At the same time, printing elements 90 are also actuated, as controlled by the timing device, for printing the hour and minutes information in space 40 at the top of the respective field of the card. After recording is complete, the anvil, stops, and card are returned to their initial positions, whereupon the card may be removed.

When the employee leaves the place of employment, he reinserts the punch-card and depresses the out button 10. This actuates solenoid 66, whereupon its armature 68 acting on cam 70 moves the respective stop 52 a small distance rightwardly, to place the lower surface 64 of the slot in alignment with the card. The card then drops down the distance between surfaces 62 and 64, which is equal exactly to three columns of the punch card, whereupon the out time field is made effective for that respective day. The cycle of operation continues, including the operation of the punches and printing elements, as described above.

Many modifications, variations, and other applications of the illustrated embodiment will be apparent.

I claim:

1. A punch-card time-recording device, comprising: a housing having an opening for receiving an employees time punch-card having two major planar surfaces and an edge joining said surfaces; a timing device; a plurality of punches disposed within the housing controlled by said timing device for recording the time on the punch-card; a stop within the housing engageable with the card edge for determining the position of the punch-card with respect to the punches; a first operating element actuatable by the employee to record his in" time and controlling said stop to position a first field on a major planar surface of the punch-card with respect to said punches; a second operating element actuatable by the employee to record his out time and controlling said stop to position a second field on said major planar surface of the punch-card with respect to said punches; said stop including first and second surfaces engageable by the leading edge of the punch-card to position said first or second field of the punch-card with respect to the punches; and means controlled by said first and second operating elements for moving said stop in a direction normal to the major planar surfaces of the card to align its first or second surface with respect to the punch-card edge.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said stop includes a first surface which is notched to define said second surface thereof.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of stops each selectively actuatable to engage the leading edge of the punch-card to selectively position same with respect to the punches according to the day of the month, said plurality of stops being disposed in a line parallel to the direction of insertion of the card into the housing, said punches being mounted between said stops and the housing opening for receiving the punch-card.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein there is a stop for each day to be recorded.

5. A device according to claim 4, particularly for use as an column punch-card, wherein said punches are disposed to record the in and out" timesin separate fields of the punch-card for each day, each of said fields constituting three columns of the punch-card for each day.

6. A device according to claim 1, further including means for moving the stop, and the punch-card engaged thereby, a slight distance in the direction opposite to that of insertion of the card into the housing, before the punches are actuated.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said stops includes a pair of parallel spaced legs symetrically disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the punch-card and engageable with the edge of the punch-card. 

1. A punch-card time-recording device, comprising: a housing having an opening for receiving an employee''s time punch-card having two major planar surfaces and an edge joining said surfaces; a timing device; a plurality of punches disposed within the housing controlled by said timing device for recording the time on the punch-card; a stop within the housing engageable with the card edge for determining the position of the punch-card with respect to the punches; a first operating element actuatable by the employee to record his ''''in'''' time and controlling said stop to position a first field on a major planar surface of the punchcard with respect to said punches; a second operating element actuatable by the employee to record his ''''out'''' time and controlling said stop to position a second field on said major planar surface of the punch-card with respect to said punches; said stop including first and second surfaces engageable by the leading edge of the punch-card to position said first or second field of the punch-card with respect to the punches; and means controlled by said first and second operating elements for moving said stop in a direction normal to the major planar surfaces of the card to align its first or second surface with respect to the punch-card edge.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said stop includes a first surface which is notched to define said second surface thereof.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of stops each selectively actuatable to engage the leading edge of the punch-card to selectively position same with respect to the punches according to the day of the month, said plurality of stops being disposed in a line parallel to the direction of insertion of the card into the housing, said punches being mounted between said stops and the housing opening for receiving the punch-card.
 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein there is a stop for each day to be recorded.
 5. A device according to claim 4, particularly for use as an 80 column punch-card, wherein said punches are disposed to record the ''''in'''' and ''''out'''' times in separate fields of the punch-card for each day, eaCh of said fields constituting three columns of the punch-card for each day.
 6. A device according to claim 1, further including means for moving the stop, and the punch-card engaged thereby, a slight distance in the direction opposite to that of insertion of the card into the housing, before the punches are actuated.
 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said stops includes a pair of parallel spaced legs symetrically disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of the punch-card and engageable with the edge of the punch-card. 